North Boone teachers ratify a new four-year contract

POPLAR GROVE — A ratified contract is easing tensions between North Boone school administrators and teachers.

Lighter moods could continue if the Board of Education OKs the new four-year, retroactive agreement at its March 17 school board session.

“The teachers will have a little more security,” school board member Collin Crull said. “There are going to be several positives.”

The district’s 110 educators were threatening to strike when bargaining parties reached a tentative agreement in late February.

They had been negotiating for nearly a year and working under the terms of an expired contract for about the same amount of time.

Teachers were upset about issues that they considered to be proposed merit pay, dismissal and firing procedures and a two-tier salary schedule they said would drive out teachers.

Superintendent Steven M. Baule said during the tail end of the negotiations that he was most concerned about providing for teachers within the scope of the 1,665-student district’s fiscal reality.

Kelly Hanaman, president of the North Boone Education Association, said the contract was not overwhelmingly ratified. She didn’t provide the exact percentage of those who wanted to send negotiators back to the bargaining table.

However, “it was not unanimous,” Hanaman said.

School Board President Donald Ward said the proposed contract “is a fair contract for both parties.”

The March 17 meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the district offices, 6248 North Boone School Road.